Untitled - Library

44
buds and young fruits are eaten when preserved in salt and have
a pungent delicious taste.
166. Phellopterus littoralis, Fr., Jap Yaoya-bofu,
Hama-bofu ; a triennial umbelliferous herb growing in sandy
ground near sea shores. Its young
soft leaves are eaten raw. In
Tokio they are cultivated in farmyards; they grow throughout
the year, and their young leaves are used to decorate dishes.
167. Capsicum longum, L., Jap. Togarashi, Nanban;
an annual cultivated plant of the order Solanaceae comprising
many varieties. The fruits of the ordinary kind are red in colour,
but some are yellow and others dark purple. In form some are
long and thin, and others round or ovate. The plant with long
fruits is called Nikko-tQgarashi, and the short one, Taka-no-tume*
Both are very acrid and hot, but there is a kind called Amatogarashi
which owing to the mildness of its acridity is eaten
as a vegetable. The variety here mentioned is called Tenjikumori
or Yatsu-busa, and is much cultivated in the vicinity
of Tokio.
168. Capsicum longum, Z., var., Jap. Shishi-togarashi ;
a variety of Capsicum longum. L., with wrinkles on the skin. It
has the same use as the preceding.
169. Capsicum cerasiforme, Jap. Yenomi-togarashi ;
a kind of pepper with its fruits resembling those of Celtis sinensis.
They have the same quality and use as the pepper.
170. Perilla arguta, Bcnth., Jap. Shiso ; an annual
cultivated plant of the order Labiatae growing to a height of
about 2 fts. Its
young seeds are eaten raw or boiled. Its leaves
and flower-racemes are used as condiments or preserved
in salt ;
especially the leaves are used to give a purplish
red tint to the
salt-preserved Prunus rnume. A variety with wrinkled leaves
has a deep purple colour. In early spring the seede are sown
uuder glass and their cotyledons are used as a condiment.
171. Perilla arguta, Benth., var., Jap. Aoso, Shiroso ; a
variety of Perilla arguta, Benth., with green leaves and stems and